Chase Dawson tripled three times to set the team’s single game record and jump to the top of the league leaderboard, a familiar spot for the man who set a league record with 24 last season as the Boomers streaked to a 10-3 win over the Sussex County Miners on Saturday night at Wintrust Field.
Following a scoreless opening three innings the Boomers quickly scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Brett Milazzo led off with a single to stop a string of seven consecutive batters retired by Sussex County starter Alex Hart. Dawson posted his first triple of the game in the fourth, tripling off the wall in right, his third of the year. Blake Berry followed with an opposite field single to bring home Dawson. Sussex County chased Schaumburg starter Miguel Reyes in the fifth, pulling within a run at 2-1.
The Boomers erupted in the bottom of the inning. Dawson smacked his second triple pf the game with two outs, clearing the bases and Berry recorded his second RBI single as the Boomers pushed the lead to 6-1. Four more runs scored in the seventh as Dawson notched his third triple of the night. Kyle Fitzgerald singled home a run, Alec Craig lifted a sacrifice fly and John Fiorenza added an RBI single.
Cristian Lopez earned the win in relief, working 4.2 innings and allowing two run on a ninth-inning homer while striking out four. Dawson finished with four hits and five RBIs while Berry notched three hits with a pair of RBIs. Milazzo also finished with three hits.
The Boomers (21-13) conclude the three-game series with Sussex County on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm with a Bark in the Park! Dogs welcome at Wintrust Field for the game thanks to Golf Rose Animal Hospital. There will also be pregame catch on the field along with postgame autographs presented by Wintrust. RHP Luis Perez (2-3, 5.17) is scheduled to start against RHP Tyler Thornton (0-0, 2.55). Tickets are available by visiting www.boomersbaseball.com or calling 847-461-3695.